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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-24-2022 City Council Minutes MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,January 24,2022 6:00 o'clock p.m. ROLL CALL The Orono City Council met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Mayor Dennis Walsh,City Council Members Matt Johnson,Aaron Printup,Richard Crosby III,and Victoria Seals.Representing Staff were City Administrator/Engineer Adam Edwards and Finance Director Ron Olson. Mayor Walsh called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF AGENDA CONSENT AGENDA 1. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 10,2022 2. COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES OF JANUARY 10,2022 3. CLAIMSBILLS 4. APPROVAL OF 2022 TOBACCO LICENSES 5. APPROVAL OF RENTAL LICENSES 6. APPROVAL OF ONE-DAY GAMBLING LICENSE FOR URBAN BOATBUILDERS— RESOLUTION NO. 7245 7. APPROVAL TO HIRE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TECHNICIAN 8. 2022 ENGINEERING AND DESIGN SUPPORT APPROVAL 9. APPROVAL OF SPRING LOAD RESTRICTIONS—RESOLUTION NO. 7246 10. APPROVAL TO PURCHASE TEE-MOWER 11. AUTHORIZATION FOR NUMBER OF SIGNATURES ON CHECKS 12. LA21-000069—JEFF HOXIE,HOXIE HOMES OB/O WILLIAM&ALENA SWANSON, 4635 TONKAVIEW LANE,VARIANCE AND ROW ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT —RESOLUTION NO.7247 13. LA20-000001—NEIL WEBER OB/O ORONO APARTMENTS LLC,2475 KELLEY PARKWAY,EXTENSION OF APPROVAL FINAL MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN— RESOLUTION NO. 7248 Crosby moved,Printup seconded,to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted.VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. Page 1 of 5 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,January 24,2022 6:00 o'clock p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. Mayor Walsh took a moment to speak about the most recent Planning Commission meeting,noting many people came and spoke, some very graciously and others throwing out some aspersions and things that were not true.He clarified the City posts all notices 10 days ahead of time in the paper,people can sign up on ListServe for notifications,and the final agenda comes out 3-4 days in advance.Mayor Walsh appreciates the enthusiasm of the people but stated when a person says no one else gets to talk because they are not in communist Russia it diminishes things that person would say after that. When one aligns themselves with people who cast aspersions and make things up,such as a person who spoke about Big Woods and Bederwood...he said they all know that Bederwood was not big woods 50 years ago but was a field,although it is not as good of a story without piping it up and creating a Go Fund Me page.Mayor Walsh quoted a saying,"Idle hands are the devil's workshop."He would say that idle lands are the same problem,noting Lurton Park was idle land several years ago and the City went to the family who graciously donated the land and asked if they could create a dog park.The family wanted to see the land used and gave permission,the City built fences, structures,worked with the neighbors and now it is probably one of the best dog parks in the suburbs.Mayor Walsh stated that if any Council in the future wanted to sell land and raise money and revenue,they can sell any of the land the City owns and there is nothing the current Council can put in place that couldn't be changed with a vote.He thinks the best park land that the City has will not be the idle park land.Philosophically,this Council has been very consistent over the last 7-8 years and they have reconstituted the Park Commission who have done a fabulous job and have gone through many of the City's parks to add to them and make them better.Mayor Walsh explained they just went through a$500,000 renovation at Bederwood Park,redoing fields,adding lacrosse fields,and noted by definition of those who were here before [at the Planning Commission meeting] it benefits only a small number of people and the City should not do that.He stated again that idle lands do not do anyone good and they have always wanted all parks to have as much going on as possible,with all of the sports,and they would love to have those sports happen within the City rather than driving to practice in other cities.Mayor Walsh shared that when he and Mr.Printup were on a previous Council,the late Mr.Dayton had land he was selling to a developer which had a beautiful, open field area.Mr.Dayton put in his will that he wanted to preserve all the grasslands and Mayor McMillan wanted to preserve the big woods but not the fields so she allowed a house to be built into the fields. Mayor Walsh noted the only people who were fighting for the Dayton family at that point were Mayor Walsh and Mr.Printup and that was because it was in Mr.Dayton's will.Mayor Walsh asked where was everyone then?They were nowhere to be found.He noted this was eventually passed and they haven't heard a word since.Mayor Walsh clarified the City Council is about taking care of the parks and making them as useful to as many people as possible.He reiterated that no one is giving away a park and that everyone deserves to be heard without being disparaged because no one deserves to be told that they do not have a say.He stated the City Council will always hear everyone and will continue to do so,which is why all of the people were allowed to be heard at the Planning Commission meeting.He noted they also received many letters in support of the project and the City Council's job is to sort it out and do what they believe is the best thing for the City, especially upon lands that have no restrictions. Seals noted it was very apparent the previous week that the conversation was being held on social media and said that is frustrating because many residents were upset by misinformation. She would like to form Page 2 of 5 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,January 24,2022 6:00 o'clock p.m. a committee to take back the conversation and get some facts out there. She noted the park is City-owned and the City should come up with a plan for the park. She would like the committee to be comprised of the Park Commission,Planning Commission, Seals herself as the Park liaison, and Staff to look at Summit Beach Park and get into the meat-and-potatoes and decide what they want to do. Seals clarified that the job of the government,at least this City Council,is not to censor people from making requests. While people did not want to hear the request, Seals thinks it is good that it came out so people can see what it looks like. She noted if people only rely on social media and Facebook without reaching out to the City,they will not get the entire story or education on the matter. She does not have a special interest in Summit Beach Park and noted the community is fortunate to have 24 parks and a lot of acreage to enjoy. She mentioned Lake View Golf Course,which was not City-owned,was not being used,and is now gone. The job of the City is to make parks more accessible to more people so they will stay that way. Crosby would like to have discussion during a work session,noting it is important to get kids out of the house and the job of this Council is to take the parks,improve upon them,and get people out and using the parks so that one day they will not be barren land that is consumed by something else. He shared that the positive things that happen at the park will envelope the negative things. He thinks the Park Commission have been wonderful and passionate. Johnson watched the Planning Commission meeting live and thought the conversation was embarrassing with the clapping and antics and stated that is not how one exchanges ideas and opposite opinions. He noted when things like this come forward,it is clear that people do not understand the process. He clarified that nothing was getting pushed through, it was typical notice,then on to the Planning Commission and City Council and it has not come before either party at this point.In his mind,this does not deserve a committee because there is not a proposal in front of them as it was just a conversation to see what the City was interested in doing, including finding ways through public-private partnerships to make shared spaces more usable;Johnson is a supporter of that concept.He is in favor of people bringing ideas,giving feedback, involving the public, and seeing where it goes and they do not have to form a committee every time someone objects to an issue. Edwards clarified the Park Commission sends out a list of their goals for the year and they finished the list at the last work session and will vote at the February session.The Commission also establishes sub- committees to focus on particular issues or parks.He suggested getting the Park Commission at a City Council work session to share their list and the City Council can then give some guidance and direction. Printup agrees with getting things back on the rails and having transparency. Seals moved,Crosby seconded,to create a committee comprised of Councilmember Seals,Park Commissioner Rick Carter,Park Commission Chair Brian Roath,Planning Commissioner Mark McCutcheon,and City Administrator Adam Edwards to look into the Summit Beach Park project objectives,come up with an overarching plan,and bring the results and recommendation back before the City Council.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. Page 3 of 5 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,January 24,2022 6:00 o'clock p.m. PRESENTATION 14. AUDITOR'S PRESENTATION Andy Berg from Abdo,Eick, and Meyers introduced the presentation on the 2020 Financial Statement Audit.He noted it was a clean report and there are no findings to report for the 2020 audit. Tyler See of Abdo,Eick,and Meyers shared slides on screen showing the General Fund balances,budget- to-actual,revenues by type,expenditures by type, special revenue fund balances,debt service funds, capital projects fund balances,internal service funds,water funds,and other funds.Key performance indicators include Orono's tax rate which has been steady at about 16%from 2017 to 2020 and was below average compared with Class 4 cities in Hennepin County.Tax per capita has been in line with other cities in Hennepin County over the past four years.Mr. See noted debt per capita has been decreasing and is below the average of other cities the size of Orono within the County. He shared that Orono's expenditures per capita and capital expense are a bit above average of other Class 4 cities and the County. CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT Edwards had nothing to report. FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT Finance Director Olson noted he had his review earlier in the day. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT Seals just returned from Virginia and watched the Planning Commission meeting in New York City which was interesting. She reiterated to the residents of Orono:reach out to the City Council with questions rather than relying on social media. Printup shared the Dakota Trail has been extremely busy and that is good to see as people are being active.He noted regarding the Planning Commission meeting that people get passionate and that is okay because City government is here to listen. Crosby agreed with Seals that the public should not get their information from social media.He encouraged the public if they have questions or concerns to email the City Councilmembers and please include their phone number so discussions can be had and both sides can be heard.Crosby asked people to have a full discussion on what the project is and to have better knowledge of it before they blast an opinion or are afraid of something happening.He clarified the project was not even before the City Council yet and feels people jumped the gun, although it is great to see people engaged and part of the process.He noted everyone on the Council knows that they work for all citizens of Orono and will work to come up with the best ideas and collaborate.He clarified that these parks will not be stagnant places but will be used and enjoyed by children,as that is the vision. Johnson thinks the Planning Commission did a good job with the meeting,noting they had a skeleton crew.He agrees that the City wants the passion and the people,and stated he learned a lot about the history of the Dayton family and what they were trying to do. He wants all of the information to come Page 4 of 5 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,January 24,2022 6:00 o'clock p.m. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT—Continued forward but noted they have a choice as to how that information comes forward,which is what he objected to at the meeting. Mayor Walsh noted the Planning Commission terms come up in March for the Chair.He noted the Council has decided over the last few years to give everyone a chance at the role because it is a different view of things to run the meeting. Seals and Mayor Walsh spoke with Commissioner McCutcheon about accepting the role of Chair and he is willing to take on the role. Mayor Walsh said current Chair Scott Kirchner has done a good job and he is looking forward to continuing his time on the Planning Commission. Walsh moved,Crosby seconded,to appoint Mark McCutcheon as Planning Commission Chair starting in April,appoint Scott Kirchner as Vice Chairman starting in April,and appoint Jon Ressler as an alternate Chair starting in April.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. Printup noted this Saturday is the polar plunge for the Special Olympics and he would be participating along with the Police Chief and a representative from the Fire Department. ADJOURNMENT Johnson moved,Seals seconded,to adjourn the meeting at 6:57 p.m.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. ATTEST: a4r7St CU4-ak:)) Anna Carlson, City Clerk Dennis Walsh,Mayor Page 5 of 5